Page 8 of Second Chance Summer

I blink out of my thoughts and look at him again, trying not to let the sight of his handsome face deter me from the reality of us.

We’re broken.

But tonight, we’re having dinner at this swanky restaurant at our boujee hotel in paradise.

I pick up the drink menu because I imagine that’s the only way I’ll get through this dinner without snarky remarks and a headache. As I hold the laminated cardboard in front of my face, I hear Dr. Makalua say, “You won’t be needing this,” as she takes the menu from my hand.

“Dr. Makalua—what are you doing here?”

“I thought it may be beneficial if we had a joint session today. What better time during dinner?”

“Why wasn’t I notified about this?”

Hendrick says, “If it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t notified either.”

“No, that doesn’t make me feel better.”

“It’s all a part of the program,” Dr. Makalua says. “Let’s just try to have a good dinner and a good session. Yes?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Hendrick answers eagerly.

“Fine,” I say, rolling my eyes, but the doc fenna have me looking at her sideways, popping up for dinner like this. I pick up the food menu and look at the available entrees. When the waitress comes back, I order the grilled fish with lime rice. Hendrick gets a steak and lobster dinner. The doc chooses sea bass with coconut rice and spinach.

“So,” she says as soon as the waitress walks away. “I want you both to act natural. Talk to each other. As a matter of fact, pretend I’m not here for a moment and carry on with what would be a normal discussion.”

“But you’re sitting right there,” I say.

“I know, but just give it a shot.”

You can’t be for real…

“I’ll go first,” Hendrick says. I guess he’s a team player today, trying to impress the doctor. “How was your day today? You didn’t come back to the room after your therapy session this morning.”

I glance across the table, thinking how lucky I should feel that I have a man like him. He’s handsome, smart, and charming. Why can’t that be enough?

Instead of responding with bitterness and sarcasm – the trademarks of how I talk to him as of late – I decide to fall into my feelings for once and say, “I didn’t come back right away because I needed some time to myself to think. I took a walk on the beach. It wasn’t an easy day for me. It was…”

I drift off, thinking about our marriage and how happy we used to be. I’m saddened by our current state. That’s the truth.

“It was what?” Hendrick asks, his dark eyes beaming attentively across the table.

“It was…painful.”

He grimaces, takes a sip of water, never taking his eyes off me. I don’t take mine off him either.

“What made it painful?”

I folded my arms. “Do you really care to know?”

“Yes, that’s why I’m asking you, Nai.”

I blow a long, even breath and pick up my glass. I want to talk to him, but I don’t want to be vulnerable. Been there, done that.

I glance over at Dr. Makalua. I know I’m supposed to be pretending she’s not here, but I need some kind of moral support – or at least a nudge to actually talk to him. I get that when she offers me a single nod and a slight smile.

I clear my throat and focus my attention on Hendrick when I say, “I hate this for us. I didn’t want to come here, Henny, but I did, and talking to Dr. Makalua this morning made me realize once again that I still love you. That I don’t want this separation or divorce, but what am I supposed to do when I’m backed into a corner? When I feel like—”

The waiter comes over and unknowingly interrupts my confession by bringing our food.